Freeport High School students participate in national walkout day

FREEPORT — About 600 Freeport High School students participated Wednesday in a walkout to honor the victims of school shootings and raise awareness about gun violence in the United States.

Freeport students joined others from schools across the country on a national walkout day organized by students at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, the site of a mass shooting last month.

“I think because people see us as teenagers, they think we won’t take it seriously,” said Sara Heiden, a senior. “In all these tragedies that are happening, people just like us who are doing things just like us every single day — they are losing their lives.”

Students left class at 10 a.m. and gathered outside the school entrance on Moseley Street before heading to the football stadium for a group photo. A student read the names of the 17 people who died during the Feb. 14 Florida shooting.

One of the students’ goals is to tell lawmakers that they are in favor of new gun laws.

“It’s our lives on the line, and I think it’s important that people know that we care about this,” said Kat Guthrie, a senior. “It doesn’t matter who you voted for, who your parents voted for or who you believe is a better person in politics. You deserve to feel safe in a school.”

The demonstration lasted 17 minutes — one minute for each shooting victim. Students then returned to school for their third period classes.

The students who organized the demonstration praised Principal Beth Summers and other administrators for allowing them to participate without fear of disciplinary action.

“I’m really pleased that the students stepped forward and did this in a way that worked for them and worked for us as well,” Summers said. “It was 15 minutes out of their school day and probably a moment they’ll remember for the rest of their lives.”

Freeport students are not done tackling complex issues. During the school’s fourth annual Inspire Change Week, which begins on Monday, they’ll again show support for victims of the Parkland shooting. They’ll also discuss sexual abuse and mental health.

“It’s kind of like a homecoming dress-up week, but this year is the first time it’s really taken on a social movement,” Summers said.

About half of the students at the school elected to stay inside during the event.

"For anyone who didn’t want to march, we want them to know we still think there is a mental health issue and an ostracization issue,” said Katelynn McIlwain, a senior. “We said to reach out in kindness to 17 people who you normally wouldn’t so that we can address the people who feel alone and feel like they have to be violent as a result of that.”

Students at Rockford, Belvidere and Machesney Park high schools also participated in the walkout.

Some area schools organized in-school events or activities and encouraged students to participate in those instead of the walkout. Rockford and Harlem students were assured that they would not be punished for participating in a brief walkout if they worked with building administrators in advance.